Thought Field Therapy™ (TFT) is an energy-based form of psychotherapy designed to reduce symptoms of psychological distress by manipulating how energy flows in the body. TFT has based on the premise that bodies consist of energy fields and that imbalances in this system cause physical and emotional issues. It is thought imbalances can be corrected by finger tapping specific energy points in certain sequences in order to restore an individual’s health and wellness. Some claim TFT produces rapid, lasting results in the treatment of various psychological conditions, including phobias, addictions, anxiety, trauma, and depression.
It has been applied by medical practitioners to a wide range of physical concerns and some individuals seeking help for mental health challenges may also find it a helpful approach.
Thought Field Therapy™ represents a significant deviation from the typical ways psychological issues are perceived, diagnosed, and treated. Instead of viewing psychological distress as a mental function, Callahan believes it is encoded in the body’s energy system, an aspect of the individual that cannot be accessed through traditional talk therapy. The therapeutic process in TFT is therefore quite different from those used in more conventional approaches.
In TFT, individuals are first asked to think about the issue they face and to rate their level of distress on a subjective unit of discomfort (SUD) scale ranging from 0 or 1 to 10. Ten represents the highest level of discomfort, and 0 or 1 represents the complete absence of discomfort. Changes in the individual’s SUD ratings are used throughout therapy to gauge the effectiveness of treatment.
Following an initial self-evaluation, the individual is instructed to tap various meridian points thought to be associated with energy build-ups while focusing on the issue being addressed. It is important that people focus on the issue that brought them to therapy, as this is believed to help them “attune” the relevant thought field, activating the perturbation causing their symptoms. Callahan theorizes that tapping adds energy to the thought field, helping rebalance the flow of energy in the system.
